Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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474. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the annual costs of projected increased staffing numbers of the agencies involved in the end-to-end asylum process under the Government’s Implementation plan for the EU Migration and Asylum Pact, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28875/25]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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475. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the minimum qualifications that will be required for staff in each of the agencies involved in the end-to-end asylum process under the Government’s Implementation plan for the EU Migration and Asylum Pact, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28876/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 474 and 475 together.

It is a central priority for me as Minister for Justice that our immigrations laws are robust and enforced.

The EU Migration and Asylum Pact is a new EU framework to manage migration and asylum for the long-term. The overall objective of the Pact is to provide a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure. This will be done through convergence in asylum practises across the EU.

Ireland’s national implementation plan (NIP) sets out the State’s proposed approach to meeting the requirements set out in the Pact. It is not a binding prescription, but rather an indication of how Ireland intends to go about implementing the Pact.

The NIP allows for a transition period before the Pact comes into effect in June 2026 during which elements can be examined in greater detail and modified as required. This includes operational aspects as well as resource requirements around human resources, IT, infrastructure etc.

Following significant engagement with stakeholders in the international protection system, my Department drew up a first indicative cost model setting out potential capital set-up costs, post-Pact implementation non-pay running costs and the cost of new staff required from June 2026 to process applications.

Additional staff are required in particular in the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) Repatriation and the Legal Aid Board to support faster processing required by the Pact. This will enhance capacity in areas that have not expanded to the same extent as the IPO in recent years.

The cost estimates associated with the plan require further refinement before discussion in the normal fashion under the estimates process. The submission to the European Commission has emphasised that further work is required to finalise this.

However, the NIP sets out an ambition to have a maximum 9-month processing period for applicants in the international protection system, which would greatly reduce the cost to the State. The delivery of State-owned beds through the State’s Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy will also reduce the cost of accommodation.

In relation to staff qualifications, requirements differ depending on the area of work. For instance, staff in the Border Management Unit are trained as immigration officers, while staff in the IPAT require a legal qualification to hear appeals. A capability requirement was completed as part of the development of the NIP and this will inform future training needs.

The General Scheme of the new International Protection Bill provides for the establishment, membership and functions of a new Second Instance Body, which will deal with appeals under the Bill. Part 11 of the General Scheme (Appeals and the Second Instance Body) proposes minimum legal practice or legal academic experience requirements for appeals officers of the new body.